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Mayor Gail Coniglio spoke about civility during the Architectural Commission’s most recent meeting last month, asking members to be more respectful to applicants. Daily News File Photo

Posted: 8:00 a.m. Thursday, July 20, 2017

Members of the Palm Beach Architectural Commission are again on notice for how they speak to architects and professionals presenting projects before the town.

Officials raised the issue, they say, in the interest of civility and legal protection. But one councilwoman disagrees with the way commissioners were reprimanded.

Town Council President Richard Kleid said he has received lots of complaints from architects who are upset and feel they’ve been ridiculed by commissioners in front of their island clients, he said at a recent council meeting. The council has warned the commission and individual commissioners in the past about their attitude.

“I have heard from some presenters — and have observed myself — that too often the critical comments from the podium have crossed the line, bordering on demeaning, rude and defamatory,” Kleid said at a recent council meeting.. “We are a small community. We pride ourselves on civility, manners and treating everyone with respect.”

Kleid asked Mayor Gail Coniglio to address the issue during the commission’s most recent meeting last month. After thanking members for volunteering their time and talents to the town, she asked them to be more respectful to applicants.

“The presenters that come before you are probably making their largest purchase as homeowners, with a design that means so much to them,” Coniglio told the commission. “I am hoping that the remarks that are made here are positive improvements, constructive comments that modify the architectural designs that might not meet the community’s needs.”

Town Attorney John Randolph, noting that it’s not his job to “scold,” said he also had heard complaints about conduct.

“This matter is important not solely because of the issues of civility, professionalism and good manners, but is important from a legal standpoint,” he told the board. “Your decisions are reviewable in the Palm Beach County Circuit Court. Arguments may be made to overturn your board’s decision based on irrelevant and unnecessary comments outside the scope of the criteria on which you are to base your decisions.”

Commissioners’ comments

Council members wouldn’t name the commissioners, but Kleid said “those of you who have crossed the line know who you are…”

“I have been on Landmarks (Preservation Commission) and ARCOM for close to 17 years,” she said via email. “Sometimes it is difficult to get your point across and patience can be in low supply at times. This was not the first time we have been spoken to, probably the tamest. At least we weren’t all fired.”

Councilwoman Julie Araskog didn’t agree with how Coniglio addressed the commission about civility.

“I had quite a few conversations with ARCOM members who were upset and felt that they had been admonished and didn’t understand why at their last meeting,” she said. “I think if we are going to do something like that we should all discuss it or maybe send an email to whomever it is that it’s directed at. In my opinion, it wasn’t fair to do to an entire ARCOM board. I don’t think it’s the right approach.”

Commissioner and former chairman Bob Vila said he was off the board for a year and was surprised and “unaware that there had been cause” for the mayor’s comments.

“That said, I think it is an important observation and reminder that all volunteers on town boards are there to help and serve our friends and neighbors,” he said via email.

Kleid said he’s talked to individual members “on several occasions” to get them to “tone down the rhetoric,” but that private conversations weren’t working so a public setting was needed.

“It was determined that the way to do it was to have a general conversation with ARCOM and not pick on the one or two individuals,” he said.

Councilwoman Danielle Moore said she agreed with Kleid’s approach and said the next step would be “publicly removing” members.

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